Maio That’s Not Mayo

If like me, you’ve shied away from mayonnaise in the past because it’s such a calorie bomb, now you can indulge with a whole lot less guilt, thanks to Maio.

It’s not bona fide mayonnaise made by whipping egg yolks and plenty of oil. Instead, it’s made of yogurt, given a substantial mouthfeel from the additions of cornstarch and gelatin.

While store-bought mayonnaise weighs in at 100 calories for 1 tablespoon (with 100 of those calories being fat), Maio has all of 20 calories for 1 tablespoon (with half of those calories fat).

I had a chance to try samples recently of Maio, which comes in three flavors: Plain, Chipotle, and Garlic.

I do like mayonnaise — I just try to limit how much of it I indulge in. So, I was a little skeptical that Maio would be as indulgently satisfying. But it is. It’s very creamy, and thicker than store-bought mayonnaise.

Find them in the refrigerated produce case at Safeway stores.

The Garlic, with a balanced garlicky taste that comes through especially on the finish, would be perfect mixed into potato salad or squirted into a baked potato. The Chipotle is smoky, tangy, and spicy, and would be especially good on a burger or pork sandwich. My favorite is the Plain, because you really get the familiar tang of yogurt, but more savoriness because of vinegar, lemon juice and gentle spices. Mix in a few capers and this could replace your usual tartar sauce. Or dab it on smoked salmon. Or have your kids dunk veggies in this instead of Ranch dressing.

The 8-ounce squeeze bottles ($2.99 each) can be found in the refrigerated produce case at Safeway stores in Northern California.